Three Kent Villages Walk, Kent

Walk Details

The outward section of this ramble takes in three Kent villages – Bridge, Bishopsbourne and Kingston. The return route visits Charlton Wood and two farms – Langham Park and Lenhall, where hop production past and present is evidenced.

We start on the main street in Bridge, heading south east, beyond the church. We turn right into Bourne Park Road, crossing a stile 50m on the left to follow the right fork of two paths. Tall marker posts lead us to a stile, giving access into a wooded section. A clear path leads down to a road where we turn left.

After 100m, we cross a stile on the right to enter an area known as ‘The Wilderness’ (Bourne House is to the right). We cross the enclosure, heading directly towards Bishopsbourne church. This involves crossing the intermittent river Nailbourne several times using footbridges.

We enter the graveyard of St. Mary’s, a church mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, but rebuilt in the 13th century. We leave through the impressive lychgate funded by public subscription in 1911 and continue to walk straight ahead towards Kingston village.

Entering the village we pass the forge, several pretty cottages and The Mermaid pub. We then step off the road at a sharp bend in favour of an access road running through the grounds of Charlton Park. We leave the metalled surface at a pronounced bend – signposted Kingston before crossing a small, brick bridge and pass through two gates making towards the village. Reaching the main road, we turn right to walk uphill for ¾ mile and veer right at a junction (50m beyond the last house), continuing along the road for an additional ¼ mile.

After passing a footpath sign on the left – we swing right into Charlton Wood – where a carpet of wood anemone awaits ramblers in springtime. A short distance into the wood we bear left at a junction. When a second junction appears, we proceed straight ahead between the trees.

Continue along a field edge with trees to the right. Where the trees end, we turn right and immediately left to cross the field and head down to Langham Park farm – turning right to then walk along the road for approximately one mile.

Here we have two choices of which way to go next – we can either turn left immediately beyond the two impressive residences (signpost); follow the boundary to the angle then cross the cultivated field diagonally right, towards Lenhall farm building (in sight). The second option though will be better underfoot.

We continue a little further along the road and turn left into the farm access road. The oasts bear dates of 1875 and 1912. A keystone on the north west wall is inscribed ‘God giveth the increase’ MB 1875.

At the end of the access road – facing the metal kilns we turn right and pass a house, curving left (you’ll see the diamonddatestone MB 1860) along an obvious track. Note the line of trees away to the left. These stand on a disused railway tunnel where massive artillery guns were hidden during inactive periods of the second world war. The guns are reputed to have fired shells across the English Channel!

After passing an area known as The Shave and a white painted cottage, the hop lines are encountered. Fifteen-foot poles with thick twine lines attached, encourage the hops to grow rapidly. Only two counties in England grow hops – Kent and Herefordshire.

With the rooftops of Bridge in sight, veer right at Flint Cottage, cross a stile on the left, then cross the fields and two footbridges to arrive at a road. Turn right along the road to return to the main street in Bridge.